Drought and water availability

Services

Water resources licence application forms

Use these forms to apply for a water resources licence.
Form WR80: application for a drought permit

Application form for a drought permit for water companies in England and Wales.

Check if you need a licence to abstract water
- Detailed guide
- 30 April 2025
- Environment Agency
Apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence
- Detailed guide
- 30 April 2025
- Environment Agency
Get advice before you apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence
- Detailed guide
- 1 April 2025
- Environment Agency
Check if you need a licence to impound water
- Detailed guide
- 17 December 2024
- Environment Agency
Trade water abstraction rights
- Detailed guide
- 20 March 2024
- Environment Agency

EA steps up dry weather prep after driest spring start since 1956
- 7 May 2025
- Environment Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Press release
West Country creates sources of water in unlikeliest places聽
- 3 April 2025
- Environment Agency
- News story
Nature restoration at North Cave Wetlands mark end of water tour
- 13 March 2025
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Press release
Water investment to unlock growth in East of England
- 13 March 2025
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Press release
Securing a sustainable water future for the South East
- 12 March 2025
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
- Press release

Drought: how it is managed in England 鈥� proposed updated response framework
- 3 April 2025
- Environment Agency
- Consultation outcome
- Date closed 10 January 2025
Update to the water company drought plan guideline (2025)
- 19 March 2025
- Environment Agency
- Consultation outcome
- Date closed 26 January 2025
North Devon abstraction licensing strategy
- 28 January 2025
- Environment Agency
- Policy paper
North Cornwall, Seaton, Looe and Fowey abstraction licensing strategy
- 28 January 2025
- Environment Agency
- Policy paper
Aire and Calder abstraction licensing strategy
- 16 January 2025
- Environment Agency
- Policy paper